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2026 Chevrolet Suburban Review2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Review
The three-row 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is designed for comfort and capability with roomy seating, new tech, and hybrid efficiency.
Overview
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is a three-row SUV built for space and comfort without feeling oversized. Whether you’re headed on a weekend trip, hauling gear for a side hustle, want a confident daily driver, this is it.
Carsforsale.com Score
9/10
Powertrain
Score
9/10
Interior
Score
9/10
Technology
Score
8.75/10
Value
Score
8.75/10
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Powertrain 9/10
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander offers three engine choices across multiple trim levels. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 265 hp and pairs with an eight-speed automatic. A hybrid combines a 2.5-liter engine, two electric motors, and a lithium-ion battery for 243 hp and uses an eCVT for shifting. At the top, the Hybrid MAX Platinum makes 362 hp by pairing the turbo engine with an electric motor.
Towing ranges from 3,500 pounds for the standard hybrid to 5,000 pounds for gas and Hybrid MAX models. If all of these numbers are starting to sound familiar, it’s because they are. You may have seen them in our 2025 Grand Highlander review. There were no new changes for this model.
On the road, the Grand Highlander is calm and confident, with AWD adding extra grip in bad weather. Fuel economy depends on the setup. The gas version gets 21 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. The best fuel efficiency is with the standard hybrid, getting 36 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Interior 9/10
There’s a lot of space inside the Grand Highlander. All three rows of seating can accommodate up to eight passengers comfortably. Interior room was one of the reasons the 2025 Grand Highlander ranked so high on our list of the Best 3-Row Mid-Size SUVs of 2025. With no major changes made on the 2026 model, the Grand Highlander still has excellent legroom, especially in the third row where it outshines rivals like the Kia Telluride with 33.5 inches of space.
Materials, with soft-touch surfaces throughout, feel upscale. Leather, heated seats, and ventilation are all offered at higher trim levels, too. Behind the third row, cargo capacity measures 20.6 cu-ft. With second-row seats folded, passengers get 57.9 cu-ft. There’s a maximum of 97.5 cu-ft with all seats folded.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Technology 8.75/10
There’s plenty of tech if you want it. A 12.3-inch touchscreen runs Toyota’s latest infotainment system, which is responsive and easy to navigate. The cabin is also outfitted with a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Every model in the lineup comes with lane-keeping assist, lane departure alert, steering assist, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and dynamic radar cruise control. They’re all part of the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system. Unfortunately, a 360-overhead camera is exclusive to higher trims.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Value 8.75/10
The base LE trim starts at just over $41,000. With standard features like three-zone automatic climate control, a six-speaker stereo, seven USB ports, 13 different cup holders, fabric-trimmed seats, and a backup camera, it’s a good vehicle. But obviously, Toyota is going to sprinkle in the amenities as you go into the higher models.
We’d recommend going up to at least the XLE trims to get heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging. The Limited trims get driver’s seat memory settings, heated second-row seats, and an 11-speaker JBL audio system.
Once you’re into the Hybrid Nightshade category (with blacked out styling), you get things like the ambient interior lighting. The Platinum trims get all the extras, like a 10-inch color Head-Up Display.
Some warranties are the same for both gasoline and hybrid models. A basic warranty lasts 36 months or 36,000 miles, a powertrain warranty spans 60 months or 60,000 miles, and a corrosion protection warranty goes for 60 months or unlimited miles.
Trims & Pricing
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Final Score 9/10
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander succeeds as well-planned mid-size SUV. It’s equal parts spacious and smart. Add in AWD versatility and hybrid efficiency, and you’ve got a strong competitor for the likes of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. Although the Grand Highlander is slightly more expensive than both, it does check a lot of boxes.
